As I’ve been hinting through my reread of the series, I am not a fan of book seven. While the last three books have been filler, it’s most apparent in this. The only purpose it serves is to set up a love triangle between Michael and JP (aka “The Corn-in-the-Chili boy”) for the next three books. There didn’t even need to be a love triangle; we can already see there’s problems in Mia and Michael’s relationship. She’s insecure about Michael being around more sophisticated girls; Michael has his own issues with his parents’ relationship; not to mention, their lives are very busy, so they don’t spend as much time with each other. That could have been a very interesting read, and different from a good chunk of YA romances. Mia is extremely self-centered throughout this. She doesn’t make an attempt to figure out what’s wrong with her best friend, and doesn’t understand why Lilly’s rightfully angry with her over JP. The rest of the book—the student council budget and subsequent Grandmere scheme to save the day—is pointless. Grandmere’s plot to put on a musical for a charity benefit feels like a continuation of book six’s take that by shoving in as many pop culture names as possible. (Also, I find it really implausible that Bob Dylan would buy one of the World Islands*.) The only thing that I liked in the whole book is the hint that Lana is not an airhead cheerleader, which appears for all of two lines. I disliked this book when I first read it (and almost made me swear off the rest of the series), and I still like very little of it.

*If you've never heard of the World Islands, check out the Wiki pagehref>, it's a pretty fascinating study of decadence. ( )

I really hated Michael in this. He's so pushy about the whole sex thing. If Mia isn't ready (which she very obviously won't be for a while, how can he expect her to attach a date to when she will be ready? Lilly is equally obnoxious, though not nearly as much as usual. I love the 'addition' of JP and think he would be much better suited to Mia than Michael (who has nothing in common with Mia. ( )

"The spirit and will of any child would have been entirely humbled and broken by the changes she has had to submit to. But, upon my word, she seems as little subdued as if - as if she were a princess."A Little PrincessFrancesca Hodgson Burnett

Dedication

For my niece,Riley Sueham Cabot,another princess in training

First words

Dear Dr. Carl Jung,I realise you will never read this letter, primarily because you are dead.

Princess just want to have fun . . . And Mia does too, despite the fact that the student government over which she presides is suddenly broke. But Grandmère's got a wacky scheme to raise the money, catapult Mia to theatrical fame, and link her romantically with an eligible teen bachelor who's not her boyfriend. No wonder Michael seems to think she's a psycho, or worse: not much fun. Is it possible that Mia, soon-to-be star of the stage, president of the student body, and future ruler of Genovia, doesn't know how to party?

In a series of humorous diary entries, fifteen-year-old Mia tries to figure out how to raise money for the bankrupt student government at her school while also worrying about how to become a "party girl."